Elastic fabric



G. F. TOWNSEND ELASTIC FABRIC June 11, 1929.

Filed June 19, 1925 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. TOWNSEND, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T EARL WHEELER JENKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELASTIC FABRIC.

Application filed June 19,

. My invention relates to elastic fabrics of the type including rubber or similar strands,

and the object ofthe invention is to provide Fig. 1.

therein illustrated a warp a novel fabric of this type-possessing the advantages hereinafter set forth.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1, is a face view of a fragment of fabric made in accordance with my invention, and

Fig. 2, is a section on the line 2-2 of With reference to the drawings, I have nit fabric employing the nubia stitch. Although it is to e; understood that the invention in its broadest aspect is not limited to any particular type of fabric, warp, knit fabrics and particularly fabrics employing the nubia and like stitches are particularly well adapted for thepurposes of the invention.

The fabric illustrated in the drawings, as

is well understood by those familiar with the knitting art, is practically non-extensible in a weftwise direction, while extremely so in the direction of the warps. As clearly illustrated, the loops of the nubia stitches arrange themselves in rows running longitudinally of the fabric or with the warps, the alternate loops of each thread in the present instance occupying adjacent rows. Thus I 'have designated in Figure 1 of the drawings the left-hand loops of each thread as l, and the right-hand loops 2, the said loops 1 of one thread interlocking with the right-hand loops, 2, of the adjacent thread.

Intermediate the said rows of loops and extending across one side of the fabric parallel to said rows is a rubber strand 3, which latter is tied in on the fabric by means of an inlay thread 4 which interlaces with the stitches of the fabric intermediate the said rows of loops, said thread 4 passing back and 1923. Serial No. 646,456.

strands of rubber 3 are laid against the body of the fabric without being knitted thereinto, the threads making up the body of the fabric-engaging the strands of rubber for a portion only of the peripheral or angular extent of the latter. The inlay or tying threads likewise extend only part way around the peripheries of the strands of rubber althoughwhen interlocked the tying threads and the threads of the body of the fabric together completely encircle the strands of rubber. As the threads of the body of the fabric and the tying threads engageopposed portions of the strands of rubber and are interlaced adjacent opposed portions thereof and as neither the threads of the body. of the fabric nor the tying threads individually or separately encircle or coil about the strands of rubber they do not laterally stretchor distort the same from their normal straight form.

To give the fabric more body and strength, I may interweave with the threads which form the loops 1 and 2a reinforcing thread 5 which follows the general course of the loops 1 and 2 of each of the said rows.

In elastic fabrics of this nature, it has been customary, prior to my invention, to extend the rubber strands weftwise, and so far as I am aware, I am the first to provide a knit fabric in which the rubber strands extend with the warps.

The advantages are several, the most important being a greatly increased production over fabrics of this general type in which the rubber extends weftwise and the fact that I am able to provide by use of the nubia. and such open network stitches a comparatively open fabric which adds greatly to the value of the roductby reason of comparative coolness w en worn. I am further able to provide the fabric with various. ornamental stitches, making it suitable for purposes for which the previous fabrics of this nature are unadapted, and I have stood that the invention is not limited thereby, but applies in its broader sense to any type of fabric which is extensible in the direction of the warps and which includes the rubber strands.

I claim:

1. A knitted fabric having a body made up of interlaced threads, rubber strands extending along and lying flatly against certain of the threads of the body and tying threads interlaced with, though separate from and independent of the threads of the body of the fabric and engaged with portions of the rubber strands opposed to the portions of such strands engaged with the fabric body.

2. A Warp knit fabric in which alternate loops of each thread form different rows, a strand of. rubber lying against the fabric intermediate and paralleling said rows, the fabric engaging a portion only of each strand and extending only partly around the 7 same, and threads interlacing with the said looped threads intermediate the rows of loops and extending partly around and engaging portions only of said strands.

GEORGE F. TOWNSEND. 

